Don`t get me wrong. Philip Roth`s work deservedly belongs in the category of "Great American Literature", if we insist on such a category. I`ve always eagerly bought almost all his work--willing to pay for the hardback, I couldn`t wait to get my hands on his latest book, and his world. I think his best novel is AMERICAN PASTORAL. This is great literature. But lately.... I don`t know. Maybe we should call it the Woody Allen Effect. Old writer/auteur who has written classics, great work, has run out of steam and obsessed with himself and sex with younger women--his major driving force--can only write this theme over and over, which may be fascinating to him, but is borish and repetitive to most others. It`s amazing that I haven`t seen one negative review of Roth`s new novel, THE HUMBLING in any major newspaper or magazine.Maybe the fact that the reviews, such as in the NTY`s, are so short say something. I think critics are afraid of him.